For the record: Coach ‘hates’ moving o-linemen around

COLLEGE STATION — In seven games this season, Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman has started three different players at left tackle, four different guys at left guard, three different players at right guard and two different guys at right tackle.

Kevin Matthews is a rock at center, and fellow senior Lee Grimes isn’t far behind at right tackle.

Last week at Texas Tech, in the Aggies’ best game of the season, Sherman went with senior Mike Shumard at left tackle, freshman Patrick Lewis at left guard, Matthews at center, sophomore Evan Eike at right guard and Grimes at right tackle.

It worked, well, in the Aggies’ 52-30 upset of the Red Raiders.

So has the coach finally settled on a lineup?

“Just for the record, y’all ask me that every week,” Sherman said.

Just for the record, he’s right. Shumard, Eike, Lewis, Danny Baker and Matt Allen all have started at multiple positions on the line this season.

So Sherman, an old offensive line coach, took steps to clarify his philosophy on finding the right combination on the offensive line.

“I’m not a big guy on moving offensive linemen around,” he said. “I hate it. They need to be pretty much in one position. It’s been out of necessity that we’ve had to find the right combination.

“There’s still a chance we could change some things around.”

Also for the record, I asked Sherman about the status of the guard Allen, who didn’t play at all last Saturday at Tech after starting the six previous games.

Sherman said Allen was healthy, and pretty much left it at that. For his part Lewis,who’s 6 foot 2 and 312 pounds, has really come on strong at guard.

The Aggies (4-3, 1-2) play host to Iowa State (5-3, 2-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday — on Halloween. I believe I’m going as Bullhorn Guy. The only thing I need is a bullhorn. Reaching way back in the closet, unfortunately, should provide the rest.